Switch



C. T. HENDERSON SWITCH.'

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 1916.

Minn

Patented June 8, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARK T. HENDERSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER- HAMMER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WIS- CONSIN.

SWITCH.

Application filed April 25, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK T. HnNnnnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to electric switches and more especially to those of the laminated brush type.

In such switches the brush contacts are commonly employed to cooperate with fiat contact plates and to engage the same with a wiping action which subjects both to severe wear and the contact plate to a cutting action by the ends of the brush laminae.

The present invention has among its objects to provide for lubrication of the contact surface impinged by the brush to thereby minimize the aforesaid wear and cutting action and further to provide for lubrica tion of the brush laminae.

In the accompanying drawing wherein is illustrated one embodiment of the said invention,-

Figure 1 is a side view of a set of switch contacts provided with one form of lubricating means, and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the brush and lubricating means shown in the preceding figure.

Referring to the drawing a brushholder 1 is supported upon a panel 2 and carries a laminated brush 3 for engagement by a cooperating contact 41 upon an arm which may be assumed to be pivotally mounted to permit such engagement. The brush and the lubricating means therefor are attached by a bolt 6 to the brush holder 1 which is notched at 7 to receive the same, and which also carries an arcing contact 8 for engagement by a cooperating contact 9 carried by a lever 10 pivoted at 11 upon the arm 5 these contacts being of conventional form.

The brush 3, shown in detail in Fig. 2, includes the usual body of laminae 12 assembled flatwise and providing a contacting surface 13. The lubricating means includes a flat plate 14 bent to substantially U-shape and snugly engaging the outside laminae of said brush but spaced an appreciable dis- Specification of Letters Patent.

a pair of cooperating contacts, one of said Patented June 8, 1920.

Serial No. 93,408.

tance from the included edge thereof. This space is filled by a layer 15 of felt or other absorbent medium which is retained in proper relation by one or more lugs 16 inwardly struck from the body of the plate 14. An orifice 17 extends through said plate and laminae to receive the bolt 6 which thus serves to clamp the said members together while attaching the ensemble upon the holder 1. A similar orifice 18 is also pro vided in the plate 1 1 for permitting attach ment of the same upon said brush in re verse relation.

In practice, the absorbent pad 15 is saturated with a suitable lubricating fluid, which by reason of capillary attraction or other action slowly feeds through the in terspaces of the laminae until it finally reaches their contacting surface 13 thereby lubricating the same as well as the coacting surfaces of the laminae. The brush being thus lubricated, acts further as a conveyor to transfer the necessary quantity of lubricant to the flat contact 1 during its engagement therewith, thus minimizing the erosion of the latter incident to switch operation.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch having cooperating contacts, one a laminated brush, a plate associated with said brush and having a portion overlapping a laminated edge thereof, a lubricant absorbent pad held within the overlapping portion of said plate and in intimate contact with said brush, a brush holder, and a bolt extending through registering openings in said plate and brush for clamping the same upon said holder, said plate being provided with second opening for the purpose set forth.

2. In a switch mechanism, in combination,

contacts comprising a laminated brush, a brush holder notched to receive the same, means associated with said brush for lubrieating the contacting surface of the same whereby lubricant is also conveyed to said cooperating contact, and a bolt extending through said brush and associated lubricating means for clamping the said parts in operative relation upon said brush holder.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CLARK T. HENDERSON. 

